I hope that such blessings of suffering may be granted

to our brothers and sisters in the midst of illness

and life-threatening crises, as they cry out to God.

King Hezekiah, at the height of his life,

thought he would not be able to live out his full lifespan,

as he was on the brink of death.

He believed he would never again see God

or the living in this world.

He thought his life would soon come to an end.

He groaned and suffered throughout the night,

convinced his life was ending.

He wept bitterly and cried out, "O God, I am dying. Save me."

At that time, God heard King Hezekiah's plea

and extended his life by 15 years.

Hezekiah then said, "What can I say?

I will live out the rest of my days with a humble heart,

reflecting on this suffering."

He also said, "It was beneficial for me to have endured this suffering.

You loved my soul, rescued me from death, and forgave all my sins"

(Isaiah 38:10-15, 17).

Thus, the suffering near the brink of death humbled King Hezekiah

and made him realize the Lord's love,

having been forgiven all his sins.

I hope that such blessings of suffering may be granted

to our brothers and sisters in the midst of illness

and life-threatening crises, as they cry out to God.

May this assurance of salvation be with our brothers and sisters

in the midst of illness and life-threatening crises,

and may they be able to sing and praise God with faith.

King Hezekiah, who hoped in the Lord’s faithfulness, said,

"Those who are dead cannot praise You,

and those who have gone down to the grave

cannot hope for Your faithfulness.

Only the living can praise You today,

as a father tells his children of Your faithfulness.

The Lord will save me, so we will sing and praise Him

with stringed instruments all our days in the house of the Lord"

(Isaiah 38:18-20).

May this assurance of salvation be with our brothers and sisters

in the midst of illness and life-threatening crises,

and may they be able to sing and praise God with faith.

May such grace of recovery be granted

to our brothers and sisters in the midst of illness

and life-threatening crises, as they cry out to God.

The prophet Isaiah told King Hezekiah, who was sick and near death,

"The Lord has said that the king will not recover,

so you should put everything in order and prepare to die."

Then King Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed in anguish,

"O Lord, remember how I have walked before You faithfully

and with wholehearted devotion,

and how I have done what is good in Your eyes."

At that time, God told the prophet Isaiah,

"Go and tell Hezekiah, 'This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says:

I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life.

I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; I will defend this city'"

(Isaiah 38:1-6).

Although it was thought that someone near death would not recover,

Hezekiah was restored through his earnest prayer (v. 9),

 and his life was extended by 15 years.

May such grace of recovery be granted to our brothers and sisters

in the midst of illness and life-threatening crises, as they cry out to God.